Overbed table

ABSTRACT

An overbed table having a base specially configured for use with patient beds having one or more retractable under-bed wheel(s) (e.g. a 5 th  wheel or drive wheels). The base includes an under-bed portion and an outer portion that may be joined by a transition portion. The under-bed portion is configured to be fitted under a bed when the overbed table is in use. The under-bed portion is supported at its inner end on low friction glides, and has a height that is low enough to pass under raised/retracted under-bed wheels. The outer portion is configured to remain out from beneath the bed and to provide a support structure for a column and a tabletop. The outer portion is raised relative the under-bed portion and is supported upon casters or other rolling elements. The under-bed portion may be generally planar and may include a central portion and a pair of legs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to overbed tables (“OBT”), and more particularly to overbed tables for use in hospitals and other patient care facilities.

Overbed tables are used widely in hospitals and other patient care facilities where patients are treated and otherwise cared for in patient beds. The primary function of an OBT is to temporarily interfit with a bed to provide the patient with a convenient surface that is positioned over the bed and can be used, for example, as a tabletop or a work surface. When the surface is no longer needed, the OBT can be moved away from the bed, thereby eliminating any interference it may have created for the patient and providing caregivers and loved ones with unfettered access to the patient. For example, in use, an OBT may be fitted over a bed when the patient wishes to have a surface upon which to eat or to perform work. When the surface is no longer desired, the OBT can be rolled away from the bed. To facilitate fitting and removal from the bed, OBTs are designed to be easily movable over the floor. Further, to provide convenience and to accommodate movement of a patient within the bed (e.g. varying position and/or degree of incline within the bed), it has also proven beneficial for OBTs to be movable along the length of the bed. For example, if a patient positioned under an OBT changes the inclined of the bed so that the patient it sitting more upright, it may be desirable to move the OBT toward the foot of the bed in correspondence with the change in position of the patient.

A conventional OBT includes a base, a column and a tabletop. The base rests on the floor and provides a foundation of the OBT. The base is movable over the floor so that it can easily be pushed beneath and removed from under the bed. To facilitate movement, such as types of movement discussed above, conventional OBTs are supported on casters, wheels are other rolling components. The base includes an inner end that is fitted under the bed and an outer end that remains out from beneath the bed. Rolling components are typically disposed under the inner end and the outer end of the base. The column is mounted to the outer end of the base and extends upwardly to provide a support structure for the tabletop. The tabletop is mounted to the top of the column and extends inwardly generally parallel to the base so that it will provide a generally horizontal work surface situated over the bed when the base is moved under the bed. In typical embodiments, the column is height-adjustable so that that height of the tabletop can be adjusted as desired to accommodate different height beds and different patient needs.

The design and configuration of hospital and other patient beds have evolved over time. Some of the changes in bed design have caused interference with the desired operation of conventional OBTs. More specifically, many manufacturers of patient beds have redesigned the beds in such a way as to substantially reduce the amount of clearance available under the bed. This reduction in clearance is due, in most cases, to the overall form and function of these beds, but of particular concern is the use of OBTs with patient beds that have a “5th wheel” or “drive wheels”. In these types of patient beds, there is a “5th wheel” located either in the center or close to the center of the bed or two drive wheels somewhere in-between the four casters located on or about the four corners of the bed. In all of these configurations, the 5th wheel or drive wheels (collectively referred to as “under-bed wheels”) are intended for use during patient transport only to make the transport easier on the staff by using the wheels as a fulcrum when turning corners etc. As a result, under-bed wheels are typically configured to be raised and lowered. When a patient is being transported in the patient bed, the under-bed wheels are lowered to the floor for use. However, when a patient is in their room, the 5th wheel or drive wheels are disengaged and lifted off the floor so the four primary casters can sit evenly and level with the floor. Although under-bed wheel specifications vary from bed to bed, even when raised, under-bed wheels can have as little as 1″ of clearance from the bottom of the under-bed wheel to the floor.

Conventional OBT offerings do not work well with patient beds that incorporate under-bed wheels because the clearance afforded by under-bed wheels is not sufficient to accommodate passage of the base of conventional OBTs. More specifically, even when raised, under-bed wheels interfere with movement of current OBT bases. A variety of efforts have been made to redesign OBTs to limit the impact of interference created by under-bed wheels. For example, some bases are U-shaped, with the opening of the “U” facing toward the patient bed (See FIG. 1A). U-shaped bases facilitate insertion and removal, but cannot be moved along the length of the bed without interference from the under-bed wheels. Other bases are H-shaped with the openings in the “H” facing fore and aft (See FIG. 1B). H-shaped bases provide a greater degree of fore/aft movement, but increase the risk that the under-bed wheels will get in the way when the base is moved beneath or removed from under the bed. Still other bases are C-shaped and can be oriented with the opening of the “C” facing fore or aft (See FIG. 1C). C-shaped bases are similar to the H-shaped bases in that they provide some additional potential for fore/aft movement at the expense of increasing the risk of interference with the OBT is moved beneath or from under the bed. Suffice it to say that none of these configurations works well with patient beds that include under-bed wheels. Perhaps the base most capable of reducing the risk of interference between the base and the under-bed wheels is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/160,737, entitled “Over Bed Table with Enhanced Base”, which was filed on Jan. 28, 2021 by Davis et al, and which is incorporated herein in its entirety. This base is specially configured to minimize interference not only by reducing the portions of the base that are high enough to engaged the raised under-bed wheels, but also by positioning those portions where they are unlikely to interfere with fore/aft movement and by angling the portions of the base that have the potential to engage the raised under-bed wheels to minimize the impact of engagement. Although each of these different base configurations has the potential to reduce the issues presented by under-bed wheels to different degrees, none eliminates the potential for interference from the under-bed wheels.

Accordingly, there remains room for improvement in the field of OBTs, including the long-felt and unmet need for an OBT that can eliminate the problem of interference created by retractable under-bed wheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved overbed table (“OBT”) with a base that is configured to eliminate rather than merely reduce the issues associated with interference created by under-bed wheels. The OBT includes a base having an inner end and an outer end, a column extending upwardly from the outer end of the base and a tabletop mounted atop the column and extending in a cantilevered manner over the base. The inner end of the base is supported on one or more low friction glides, while the outer end is supported on one or more casters, wheels or other rolling elements. The inner end of the base has a profile low enough to pass below raised or retracted under-bed wheels.

In one embodiment, the base includes an under-bed portion and an outer portion. The under-bed portion may be generally planar with the casters and the low friction glides configured so that the under-bed portion is generally parallel to and just offset from the floor. In one embodiment, the under-bed portion is spaced above the floor by a distance of about 0.37″. In one embodiment, the under-bed portion is spaced above the floor by a distance in the range of about 0.25″ to about 0.75″.

In one embodiment, the low friction glides and under-bed portion have a collective height of no more than about 0.75″. In another embodiment, the low friction glides and the under-bed portion have a collective height of no more than about 0.95″ or are in the range of about 0.5″ to about 0.95″.

In one embodiment, the outer portion of the base is raised relative to the under-bed portion and is of sufficient height to accommodate one or more casters, wheels or other rolling elements there beneath. The outer portion may be joined to the under-bed portion by a transition portion.

In one embodiment, the under-bed portion is generally Y-shaped having a central portion and a pair of legs extending from opposite sides of the inner end of the central portion. A low friction guide may be disposed near the free end of each leg. The under-bed portion may be generally planar with the casters and low friction glides configured so that the under-bed portion is parallel to and just offset from the floor. The legs may extend from the central portion at essentially any angle.

In one embodiment, the column is mounted atop the outer raised portion, for example, by fasteners that extend upwardly through the outer raised portion into screw bosses or screw receptacles in the bottom of the column.

In one embodiment, the column is a height adjustable column with telescoping upper and lower column segments. A gas assist cylinder may be incorporated into the column to reduce the effective weight of the tabletop and the upper column segment. A control paddle may be incorporated into the OBT to facilitate operation of the adjustable-height column.

In one embodiment, the base includes a one-piece unitary structural fabricated from sheet or plate stock. The under-bed portion, transition portion and outer portion may, for example, be laser cut from a single sheet or plate stock to form a blank or preform. After cutting, the blank or preform may be bent to form the extension portion.

The present invention provides an overbed table that is well suited for use with patient beds that have retractable under-bed wheels. The height profile of the under-bed portion is sufficiently low that the under-bed portion can freely pass beneath the raised under-bed wheels of known patient beds. The combination of low friction glides on the inner end of the base and rolling elements on the outer end surprisingly provide the base with a high degree of mobility that is not appreciably different from conventional bases that are supported entirely by rolling elements. Low friction glides also reduce the cost of manufacture, are low maintenance, have a long life and are easily replaced when necessary.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an overbed table in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the overbed table.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the overbed table.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the overbed table.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a preform or blank for forming the base of the overbed table.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the base without the glides or casters.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the base without the glides or casters.

FIG. 8A is a representative view of a patient bed showing the overbed table in position under the bed.

FIG. 8B is a second representative view of a patient bed similar to FIG. 8A showing the base shifted into a position in which a glide is positioned directly below the raised under-bed wheel.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a first alternative base.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second alternative base.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third alternative base.

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of an alternative OBT having a base with a T-shaped under-bed portion and custom glides.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the base of the alternative OBT of FIG. 12 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

A current embodiment of the overbed table (“OBT”) is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and generally designated 10. The OBT 10 generally includes a base 12, a column 50 extending upwardly from the base 12 and a tabletop 52 mounted atop the column 50. The present invention provides a base 12 that is specially configured for use with hospital and other patient beds that have retractable under-bed wheels, such as 5^(th) wheels or drive wheels W (See, e.g. FIGS. 8A and 8B). Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 , the base 12 generally includes an under-bed portion 14, an outer raised portion 16 and a transition portion 18. The under-bed portion 14 is configured to be fitted under a patient bed and is of sufficiently low profile to pass under raised under-bed wheels W, thereby eliminating potential interference and allowing essentially free movement of the OBT 10 under the bed B without regard to the retracted under-bed wheels W. In this embodiment, the under-bed portion 14 includes a central portion 20 and a pair of legs 22 a-b that extend from the inner end of the central portion 20. The inner end of the under-bed portion 14 is supported on the floor by low friction glides 26. The outer raised portion 16 is joined to the outer end of the under-bed portion 14 and is configured to support the column 50 and the tabletop 52. The outer portion 16 is supported by casters, wheels or other rolling elements 28.

Over Bed Table

As noted above, the present invention provides a base 12 for an overbed table 10 that is specially configured for use with patient beds having retractable under-bed wheels. For purposes of disclosure, the base 12 is described in the context of an OBT 10 having a tabletop mounted to an adjustable-height column (See FIGS. 1-4 ). The OBT 10 shown and described herein is merely exemplary and OBT bases in accordance with the present invention can be incorporated into OBTs of essentially any design and configuration, including without limitation wide range of alternative columns and alternative tabletops.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3 , the OBT 10 generally includes base 12, column 50 and tabletop 52. In this embodiment, the column 50 is a conventional telescopic column including a lower section 30 that is secured to the base 12 and an upper section 32 that is telescopically fitted over the lower section 30. A wide range of telescopic columns is available on the market. The present invention may be incorporated into OBTs that do not include a telescopic column. For example, the column may be of fixed length or may be extend and retracted through arrangements other than telescopic arrangements. In this embodiment, the tabletop 52 is mounted atop the upper section 32 of the column 50 in a cantilevered arrangement. As shown, the tabletop 52 extends from the column 50 parallel to the general longitudinal extent of the base 12. The illustrated tabletop 52 is merely exemplary and the OBT may be fitted with a wide range of alternative tabletops, including tabletops that present a work surface and others that include one or more drawers, shelves and/or other features and accessories.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-7 , the base 12 of the illustrated embodiment generally includes an under-bed portion 14, an outer raised portion 16 and a transition portion 18 that joins that under-bed portion 14 to the outer raised portion 16. The under-bed portion 14 is configured to be slide under a patient bed B when the tabletop of the OBT 10 is moved into position over the bed B. In the illustrated embodiment, the under-bed portion 14 includes a central portion 20 and a pair of legs 22 a-b. In this embodiment, the central portion 16 is an elongated member having an inner end 34 that is intended for insertion under a bed and an outer end 36 that is intended to remain out from beneath the bed. The legs 22 a-b extend from opposite sides of the inner end 34 of the central portion 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the legs 22 a-b extend at an angle to the longitudinal extent of the central portion 20. For example, the legs 22 a-b may extend from the central portion 20 at an angle of between about 95 degrees and about 150 degrees from the longitudinal extent of the central portion 20. In this embodiment, the legs 22 a-b are essentially coplanar with the central portion 20. However, it is not strictly necessary that they be coplanar provided that neither of them are of sufficient height to engage raised/retracted under-bed wheels (at least with respect to the parts of the under-bed portion 14 that extend under the bed far enough to potentially engage the under-bed wheels).

The inner end of the under-bed portion 14 is supported on low friction glides (also known as “gliders”, “slides” and “sliders”). For example, in the illustrated embodiment, glides 26 are mounted toward the free ends of the legs 22 a-b. The low friction glides 26 may be any of a variety of suitable low friction furniture glides that are readily available from various furniture hardware suppliers. In some applications, pre-manufactured glides may require some modification for use in connection with the base 12. For example, when a furniture glide 26 with a threaded shaft is used, it may be necessary to modify the shaft to interconnect with the base 12. This may include shortening the length of the shaft. Suitable glides 26 will be selected to provide the under-bed portion 14 with a sufficiently low profile that the under-bed portion 14 is capable of passing under raised/retracted under-bed wheels W. For example, FIGS. 8A and 8B show the OBT is position under a representative bed B. FIG. 8A shows the under-bed portion 14 centered under the raised under-bed wheel W. FIG. 8B is an enlarged image showing similar to FIG. 8A showing the under-bed portion 14 shifted so that a glide 26 is positioned directly below the raised under-bed wheel W. As can be seen, there is clearance between the top of the under-bed portion 14 and the bottom of the raised under-bed wheel W. In the illustrated embodiment, the glides 26 are selected such that the under-bed portion 14 is spaced above the floor by a distance of about 0.37″. This specific height is merely exemplary and the glides 26 may be selected such that the under-bed portion is spaced above the floor by a distance in the range of about 0.25″ to about 0.75″. It should be noted that the overall height of the under-bed portion 14 of the base 12 is also impacted by the thickness of the material forming the central portion 20 and the legs 22 a-b. Suitable glide thicknesses may vary with different material thicknesses. In the illustrated embodiment, the low friction glides and under-bed portion 14 have a collective height of about 0.75″. This height is merely exemplary and, in alternative embodiments, the low friction glides 26 and the under-bed portion 14 may have a collective height of no more than about 0.95″.

The glides 26 may be secured to the legs 22 a-b in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, each glide 26 includes a threaded shaft that is affixed to the corresponding leg 22 a-b. For example, in one embodiment, a through hole may be drilled and tapped toward the free end of each leg 20 a-b, and a glide 26 may threadedly installed in each tapped hole. Alternatively, the glides 26 may be attached by adhesive or other types of fastener arrangements. The number, size, location and arrangement of glides may vary from application to application.

The outer raised portion 16 is joined to the outer end 36 of the central portion 20. In this embodiment, the outer raised portion 16 has a relatively high profile that is selected to accommodate casters, wheels or other rolling components (See FIGS. 3 and 4 ). For example, in one implementation, the outer raised portion 16 is configured to extend parallel to the floor with its bottom surface extending about 0.375″ off the floor (See FIGS. 3 and 4 ) or in the range of about 0.25″ to about 0.375″ off the floor. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer raised portion 10 is configured so that the overall height of the outer raised portion 10 when supported on casters, wheels or other rolling components is about 1.94″. However, the height of the outer raised portion 16 above the floor, as well as its overall height, may vary from application to application as desired. Because the outer raised portion 16 is not inserted under the bed B, the raised height of the outer raised portion 16 does not create interference issues with the under-bed wheels W and it benefits from a wider range of acceptable heights. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer raised portion 16 is an elongate, generally rectangular, planar component having a longitudinal extent that extends generally perpendicular to the central portion 20. It should be noted, however, that the size, shape and configuration of the outer raised portion 16 may vary from application to application. For example, the outer raised portion 16 need not be rectangular, need not be planar and need not extend perpendicularly to the central portion 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the outer raised portion 16 is supported on a pair of casters 28 that are positioned toward opposite longitudinal ends of the outer raised portion 16. As perhaps best shown in FIG. 3 , when viewed from the side, the casters 28 are roughly in vertical alignment with the column 50, which may result in the casters 28 bearing a greater portion of any vertical load placed on the tabletop 52 and thereby facilitating the use of glides 26 on the inner end of the under-bed portion 14. Further, and referring again to FIG. 3 , the illustrated casters 28 are offset slightly outwardly from the vertical axis of the column, which provides better stability then if the casters were directly aligned with the vertical axis. Although the illustrated embodiment includes two casters positioned at opposite ends of the outer raised portion 16, the number and arrangement of casters (or other rolling elements) may vary from application to application. In this embodiment, caster mounts 56 are secured to the undersurface of the outer raised portion 16. More specifically, in this embodiment, a pair of caster mounts 56 are affixed by welding to the undersurface of outer raised portion 16. The caster mounts 56 may, however, be secured by any suitable attachment, such as bolts, rivets and other fastener. In this embodiment, the casters have a diameter of about 36 millimeters. The caster size can be varied from application to application as desired. When the caster size is varied, the transition portion 18 can be varied to maintain the desired low profile of the under-bed portion 14. For example, if taller casters are used, the transition portion 18 may be lengthened to ensure that the under-bed portion 14 remains sufficiently low and generally parallel to the floor F. The illustrated casters 28 are merely exemplary, and the base 12 may be fitted with alternative casters, or with wheels, rollers or other rolling components. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “caster” is intended to encompass all types of rolling components, including without limitation casters, wheels, and rollers.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , the under-bed portion 14 (more specifically, the outer end of the central portion 20) is joined to the outer raised portion 16 by the transition portion 18. The transition portion 18 bridges the height difference between the under-bed portion 14 and the outer raised portion 16 (See FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the transition portion 18 extends between the under-bed portion 14 and the outer raised portion 16 at an angle of about 45 degrees. It may, however, extend at other angles, for example, in the range of about 5 degrees to about 90 degrees.

As noted above, the column 50 is mounted to the base 12. In this embodiment, the lower section 30 of the column 50 is affixed to the base 12 by fasteners that extend up through holes 60 in the base 12 (See FIGS. 4 and 6 ) into corresponding screw bosses integrated into the lower section 30 of the column 50. In this embodiment, the mounting holes 60 are defined in the outer raised portion 16. The mounting holes 60 are positioned to mount the column 50 at the approximate center of the outer raised portion 16. This mounting structure is merely exemplary and the column 50 may be mounted to the base 12 using essentially any suitable mounting structure capable to securing the lower section 30 to the base 12, such as welding, fasteners, clamping mechanism, post and seats just to name a few alternative options. If desired, the column 50 may include an assist spring (not shown), such as a gas assist spring. In the illustrated embodiment, a gas assist spring is disposed within the column 50 and is actuated by a paddle 62 situated below the tabletop 52 toward the top of the column 50. Manual actuation of the paddle 62 may be used to selectively lock and release the position of the height adjustable column 50.

The tabletop 52 may be mounted to the column 50 using essentially any suitable mounting structure. For example, a mounting plate 64 may be affixed to the upper section 32 of the column 50, and the tabletop 52 can be affixed to the mounting plate 64 by fasteners. In one embodiment, the mounting plate may be joined to the upper section 32 by welding or by fasteners. It should be understood that the described table top mounting structure is merely exemplary and that the present invention may be incorporated into OBT that utilize any table top mounting structure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the under-bed portion 14, outer raised portion 16 and transition portion 18 are formed from a single unitary piece of sheet or plate stock. For example, in one embodiment, the central portion 20, legs 22 a-b, transition portion 18 and outer raised portion 16 may be cut as a single piece from sheet or plate stock by laser, plasma, waterjet, CNC mills/machine tools or any other manner of cutting or machining the parts or shape needed. A planar preform P cut from a single piece of plate stock is shown in FIG. 5 . As an alternative, the base 12 may be formed from separate parts that are joined into the base, for example, by welding or other joining techniques. In one embodiment, the preform is cut from about ⅜″ plate, but the thickness may vary from application to application. As an alternative to plate or sheet stock, the preform may be manufactured from solid bar stock or other suitable materials. After cutting, the preform P may be bent at the appropriate angles to form the transition portion 18 and the outer raised portion 16, as shown in the drawings and as described above. Bending and other shaping operations may be performed using conventional presses, brakes and other metal forming equipment to achieve the design and function as described herein and shown in the drawings. The manufacturing process could and may vary. Metal and or plastics may be used as well as stamping, forging, casting, injection molding, sintered materials, additive printing methodologies and any other manner of forming or manufacturing such product.

The configuration of the under-bed portion 14 of the base 12 may vary from application to application. For example, the height of the under-bed portion may be varied to accommodate different types, styles and models of patient beds, whether it be different beds that are available on the market now or new beds that may be introduced in the future. If bed manufacturers reduce the clearance beneath raised/retracted under-bed wheels, the height of the under-bed portion may be reduced to accommodate that change. Alternatively, if bed manufacturers increase the clearance, it may provide the option of increasing the height of the under-bed portion 14. As another example, the overall configuration of the base may vary from application to application. For example, FIGS. 9-11 show several alternative base configurations that vary primarily in the design and configuration of the under-bed portion, the transition portion and the outer portion. FIG. 9 shows an alternative base 112 having a C-shaped configuration in which the under-bed portion 114 extends from an end (rather than the center) of the outer raised portion 116. In this embodiment, the central portion 120 is joined to a single leg 122 by a transition portion 118. A pair of glides (not shown) are affixed toward opposite ends of the leg 122 to support the inner end of the under-bed portion 114. In alternative embodiments, the orientation of the C-shaped configuration can be reversed with the central portion 120 extending from the opposite end of the outer raised portion 116. FIG. 10 shows a second alternative base 212 having a U-shaped configuration. In this embodiment, the under-bed portion 214 is formed by two legs 222 that are joined to opposite ends of the outer raised portion 216 by transition portions 218. A glide (not shown) may be affixed toward the inner end of each leg 222 to support the inner end of the under-bed portion 214 on the floor. FIG. 11 shows a third alternative base 312 having an H-shaped configuration. In this embodiment, the base 312 is somewhat similar to the base 212 except that the outer raised portion 316 includes a pair of secondary legs 324 configured to received and support the casters (or other rolling elements). In this embodiment, glides (not shown) are mounted toward the inner end of under-bed portion 314 on each primary leg 322 and casters (now shown) are mounted toward the center of each secondary leg 324. To receive the casters, caster mounts (not shown) may be affixed to the undersurfaces of the secondary legs 324. In each of these alternative embodiments, the under-bed portion 114, 214 and 314 is configured to extend substantially parallel to the floor and to meet the low profile specifications presented above.

As noted above, OBT 10 is merely exemplary and the present invention may be incorporated into OBTs of different designs and configurations. For example, FIGS. 12 and 13 show an alternative OBT 410 having an under-bed portion 414 that is generally T-shaped and that includes custom glides 426. The reference numerals used with OBT 414 in FIGS. 12 and 13 correspond with those used in association with OBT 10, except that they are preceded by the numeral “4”. For example, with regard to OBT 10, the reference numeral for the base is “12” and for the under-bed portion is “14” and, with regard to OBT 410, the reference numeral for the base is “412” and for the under-bed portion is “414”. Referring now to FIG. 12 , OBT 414 generally includes a base 412, an under-bed portion 414, an outer raised portion 416, a column 450 and a tabletop 452. The base 412 is essentially identical to base 12, except as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 or otherwise described herein. The base 412 includes a generally T-shaped under-bed portion 414 that includes a central portion 420 and legs 422 a-b that extend in opposite directions from the inner end of the central portion 420. As shown, the legs 422 a-b of this embodiment extend at an angle of about 90 degrees from the longitudinal extent of the central portion 420. As noted above in connection with OBT 10, the legs 422 a-b of this embodiment may extend at different angles in alternative embodiments. Further, the number, size, shape and length of the legs may vary from application to application.

As noted above, OBT 410 differs from OBT 10 not only in the shape of the base 412, but also in that it includes custom glides 426. OBT 10 (as described above) may include generally conventional furniture glides that are acquired from a third party supplier and attached to the legs 22 a-b, such as the types used on chair legs, table legs and other furniture legs. In OBT 410, the glides 426 are fabricated as an integral part of the base 412. As shown in FIG. 12 , each glide 426 includes a glide seat 480 and a glide insert 482. The illustrated glide seat 480 is a peripheral frame that is sized and shaped to form a receptacle for the glide insert 482. FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of base 412 without the glide inserts 482. As show in FIG. 13 , each illustrated glide seat 408 is a square, peripheral frame that extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the base 412 to seat the glide inserts 482. The glide seats 480 of the illustrated embodiment are affixed to the undersurface of the legs 422 a-b, for example, by welding, adhesive, fasteners or other forms of attachment. As an alternative to attaching the glide seats 480 to the legs 422 a-b, the glide seats may be formed in or on the base 412. For example, in alternative embodiments, the legs 422 a-b may be machined, milled, embossed, debossed, bent or otherwise shaped to form a receptacle or other seat for the glide insert 482. The glide inserts 482 may be secured in the glide seats 480 using any of a wide range of methods or combination of methods. For example, the glide inserts 482 may be press-fitted or snap-fitted into the glide seats 480. As another example, the glide inserts 482 may be secured in the glide seats 480 by double-sided tape, adhesives or fasteners.

The glide inserts 482 are configured to support the inner end of the under-bed portion 414 of the base 412 (when the OBT is stationary and when it is moving). To this end, the glide seats 480 and glide inserts 482 are configured so that the glide inserts 482 extend downwardly below the glide seats 480 to engage the ground. The amount to which the glide inserts 482 extend below the glide seats 480 may vary from application to application depending, for example, on the desired height of the under-bed portion, the wear characteristics of the glide inserts and the desired life expectancy. In the illustrated embodiment, the glide inserts 482 extend about 0.25″ below the glide seat 480. However, in other embodiments, the glide inserts 482 may extend in the range of about 0.125″ to about 0.25″ below the glide seats 480. The glide inserts 482 of the illustrated embodiment are manufactured from a low friction, highly wear-resistant material, such as (but not limited to) acetal (polyoxymethylene) (including homopolymers, such as Delrin®, Delrin AF® (Delrin impregnated with Teflon®) and copolymers, such as Tecaform®, Acetron® and Sustarin®), nylon, Teflon® and other similar materials. In this embodiment, each glide insert 482 is a one-piece, unitary component, but other configurations may be implemented in alternative embodiments. For example, each glide insert 482 may in alternative embodiment be a laminated construction in which a low friction, wear-resistant material is joined to the undersurface of one or more substrate materials, such that the low friction, wear resistant material forms the ground-engaging surface.

Although the illustrated embodiment includes two square glides 426 (one mounted toward the free end of each leg 422 a-b), the number, size, shape, arrangement and configuration of the glide seats 480 and glide inserts 482 may vary from application to application. In one exemplary alternative embodiment, the glide seats 480 may be circular rings and the glide inserts 482 may be disk-like and configured to be seated in the circular rings. In some alternative embodiments, the glide seats 480 may be eliminated and the glide inserts 482 may be affixed directly to the undersurface of the legs 422 a-b, for example, by adhesives or fasteners. In other alternative embodiments, the casters (e.g. 28 and 428) may be replaced by glides, such that the OBT is support by glides at both the inner end and the outer end. To accommodate the use of glides on the outer end of the base, the transition portion (e.g. 18, 118, 218, 318 and 418) may be reduced or eliminated, and the outer raised portion (e.g. 16, 116, 216, 316 and 416) may be modified so that it is not raised, but is instead coplanar (or approximately coplanar) with the under-bed portion 14. The casters may be replaced, for example, by commercially available glides (e.g. 26) or by custom glides (e.g. 426).

Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientation(s).

In addition, when a component, part or layer is referred to as being “joined with,” “on,” “engaged with,” “adhered to,” “secured to,” or “coupled to” another component, part or layer, it may be directly joined with, on, engaged with, adhered to, secured to, or coupled to the other component, part or layer, or any number of intervening components, parts or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly joined with,” “directly on,” “directly engaged with,” “directly adhered to,” “directly secured to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between components, layers and parts should be interpreted in a like manner, such as “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent” and similar words. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z ; Y, Z, and/or any other possible combination together or alone of those elements, noting that the same is open ended and can include other elements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An overbed table for use with a patient or other healthcare bed having a retractable under-bed wheel comprising: a base having an under-bed portion with an inner end and an outer end, the inner end of the under-bed portion supported upon one or more low friction glides, the base further including an outer portion joined to the outer end of the under-bed portion, the outer portion being supported upon one or more rolling elements, the under-bed portion having a maximum height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, whereby the under-bed portion is able to pass below a retracted under-bed wheel, the outer portion having a higher profile than the under-bed portion with a height greater than a retracted height of a retracted under-bed wheel; a column affixed to and extending upwardly from the outer portion of the base; a tabletop mounted atop the column.
 2. The overbed table of claim 1 wherein the under-bed portion includes two low friction glides disposed toward the inner end of the under-bed portion.
 3. The overbed table of claim 1 wherein the under-bed portion includes at least two legs; and wherein the one or more low friction glides includes a first low friction glide supporting a first one of the legs and a second low friction glide supporting the other of the legs.
 4. The overbed table of claim 1 wherein the under-bed portion includes a central portion and two legs that extend from opposite sides of the central portion; and wherein the one or more glides includes a first glide disposed under the first leg and a second glide disposed under the second leg.
 5. The overbed table of claim 1 wherein the outer portion is generally rectangular with the column affixed to and extending upwardly from an approximate center; and wherein the one or more rolling elements includes a first rolling element disposed toward one end of the outer portion and a second rolling element disposed toward an opposite end of the outer portion.
 6. The overbed table of claim 1 wherein the under-bed portion includes a central portion and two legs that extend from opposite sides of the central portion; wherein the one or more glides includes a first glide disposed under the first leg and a second glide disposed under the second leg; wherein the outer portion is generally rectangular with the column affixed to and extending upwardly from an approximate center; and wherein the one or more rolling elements includes a first rolling element disposed toward one end of the outer portion and a second rolling element disposed toward an opposite end of the outer portion.
 7. The overbed table of claim 6 wherein the under-bed portion and the outer portion are of a unitary, one-piece construction.
 8. A base for an overbed table intended for use with a patient or other healthcare bed having a retractable under-bed wheel comprising: an under-bed portion having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end intended for insertion under a bed, the outer end intended to remain out from beneath a bed; an outer raised portion joined to the outer end of the under-bed portion by at least one transition portion; one or more low friction glides disposed toward the inner end of the under-bed portion; and one or more rolling elements mounted to the outer raised portion; and wherein the under-bed portion and the one or more low friction glides have a collective height less than a retracted height of an under-bed wheel, whereby the under-bed portion can move freely beneath a retracted under-bed wheel without interference; and wherein the overbed table is configured to be supported on a floor at an inner end by the one or more glides and on an outer end by the one or more rolling elements.
 9. The base of claim 8 wherein the under-bed portion is supported on the inner end by the one or more glides and on the outer end by the outer raised portion.
 10. The base of claim 9 wherein the under-bed portion extends generally parallel to an underlying floor.
 11. The base of claim 10 wherein the under-bed portion includes at least two legs; and wherein the one or more low friction glides includes a first low friction glide supporting a first one of the legs and a second low friction glide supporting the other of the legs.
 12. The base of claim 10 wherein the under-bed portion includes a central portion and two legs that extend from opposite sides of the central portion; and wherein the one or more glides includes a first glide disposed under the first leg and a second glide disposed under the second leg.
 13. The base of claim 10 wherein the outer portion is generally rectangular and is configured to support a column at the approximate center of the outer portion; and wherein the one or more rolling elements includes a first rolling element disposed toward one end of the outer portion and a second rolling element disposed toward an opposite end of the outer portion.
 14. The base of claim 10 wherein the under-bed portion includes a central portion and two legs that extend from opposite sides of the central portion; wherein the one or more glides includes a first glide disposed under the first leg and a second glide disposed under the second leg; wherein the outer portion is generally rectangular and is configured to support a column affixed to and extending upwardly from an approximate center of the outer portion; and wherein the one or more rolling elements includes a first rolling element disposed toward one end of the outer portion and a second rolling element disposed toward an opposite end of the outer portion.
 15. The base of claim 14 wherein the under-bed portion and the outer portion are joined by a transition portion.
 16. The base of claim 15 wherein the under-bed portion, the outer portion and the transition portion are of a unitary, one-piece construction.
 17. The base of claim 8 wherein each glide includes a glide seat affixed to the undersurface of the base and a glide insert seated within each glide seat. 